Two featurettes and a trailer

"Into the Wild" is a haunting, beautiful film that will resonate with viewers for the rest of their lives. From director Sean Penn, it's the type of movie that will make you wish the guy acted less and made more things this beautiful, resonant, and wonderful. ***

This is the story of Christopher McCandless, based on the book of the same name by writer Jon Krakauer. McCandless became notorious for dying in the Alaskan wilderness. This is the story of what led him there -- and, really, how close he came to surviving. It's the story of a boy trying to become a man, and it's also a tale that makes you wonder how things might have turned out differently, if only... ***

The film is phenomenal. It was the best movie released in theaters in 2007, and was appallingly overlooked come Oscar season (with the only major nomination going to Hal Holbrook for supporting actor -- a nod he deserved, but then so did Penn as director, Emile Hirsch as the star, and the film as best picture). ***

Thankfully, we have all of Penn's breathtaking footage -- put to songs that Eddie Vedder wrote for the film -- in high definition. And it's never looked so good. ---

Image & Sound:

Stunning. Beautiful. Gorgeous. Wondrous. Those words pretty much sum up the look and sound of this Blu-ray. A real highlight for any Blu-ray owner. ---

There are just two featurettes here, but they make up in quality what's lacking in quantity. "Into the Wild: The Story, The Characters," takes viewers -- almost plot-like -- from the moment Sean Penn read the book through the making of the film. It explains the arduous process of bringing this screen, which Penn had been trying to do for years. Krakauer speaks. As do the principal actors. Even Vedder. It's as complete a making-of doc as there is. ***

The other featurette, "Into the Wild: The Experience," is a doc about ... well, the experience of making the movie. As good as it is, if you've seen the film (and why would you watch it if you haven't?), it will leave you wanting more. There are some fascinating tidbits (how they filmed the Magic Bus scenes, how they used actual production sound rather than adding background noise later, etc.), but it wil make you want to know every secret. They let us in on so much, but why not a little more? A commentary might have helped. ***

One of the biggest criticisms of this film, and the book before it, is that it glorifies McCandless. And people who feel that way will hate these featurettes as much or more than they hate the book and film. Because everyone involved here ends up heroizing McCandless. The cast and crew all talk about how amazing he was, and while he certainly had some wonderful qualities, it's hard even for a fan (and I am a huge fan -- of the book and movie) to agree with this level of glorification of someone who did make some big mistakes. Not that we don't all mistakes, but then we're not all martyred either, nor should we be. He was a human, who made mistakes, and the only flaw in these extras is that those involved seem to have lost sight of that.

Final Words: